Leak in Front axle boots, replace axles ?

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Oh ok, your talking about new oem axle? Ya, if you want to burn down $1000+ go right ahead, might come in handy to have an extra one laying around... But it really does sound like you turning a mole hill into a mountain. If your cvs are not torn, simply buy the pfran clamps for $20 and a 30 min job. If they are torn, I would pull em and reboot for about $200 (liberal estimate) worth of parts and tools if you didn't already have them, and a most of a Saturday. Once again, I had an oem reboot performed at the local Toyota dealer for $200/ side, so that dealer is seriously bending you over, I wouldn't give em the satisfaction.
 
Again, thank you for the feedback, VERY helpful.

I am going to take a more thorough look at the boots and the clamps. If boots are not cracked and look in decent shape, i will then move forward with the repacking and new clamps.

I will let you know what i find out.

Missed that post, good idea! Hope it works out
 
Oh ok, your talking about new oem axle? Ya, if you want to burn down $1000+ go right ahead, might come in handy to have an extra one laying around... But it really does sound like you turning a mole hill into a mountain. If your cvs are not torn, simply buy the pfran clamps for $20 and a 30 min job. If they are torn, I would pull em and reboot for about $200 (liberal estimate) worth of parts and tools if you didn't already have them, and a most of a Saturday. Once again, I had an oem reboot performed at the local Toyota dealer for $200/ side, so that dealer is seriously bending you over, I wouldn't give em the satisfaction.

I originally contacted a Lexus and Toyota dealer to do the reboot both sides of my LX and both dealers came back with the same $1000 price tag. At the time, i was figuring if i have to spend $1000 for just the reboot, should i fork over the few hundred more and pay for all new axels.
 
still hoping to find out definitively what bulk grease to use for repacking before reclamping.

It's been a few years but I think I used a moly grease in a can that was specifically identified as being acceptable for use on CV axles.
 
Again, thank you all for the great information. UPDATE: Took the truck back into the dealer this morning, told them that i want to see all the CV boots and make a decision then about how to proceed.

CV Boots are not cracked, in expected condition for 120k miles, and only leaking grease from the clamps.

I am going to reclamp both sides as well as have them pack in whatever grease they can and save myself $1100!!! As you said, the clamps are cheap and the labor is simple.

Thank you again! I have been schooled by the best here on the forum!
 
IIRC, our local Toy dealer told my wife that they didn't do reboots.

edit: or maybe it was that they don't do reclamping, forgot what it was. But either way, pushing to do full replacement of everything with a 3 digits+ tab...
 
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This is just another lesson in how hard it is to find a mechanic that will fix what's wrong rather than see just how much they can get from you.
 
This is just another lesson in how hard it is to find a mechanic that will fix what's wrong rather than see just how much they can get from you.

In my case, i would say that this is another lesson in doing my Due Diligence.

The maintenance rep at the dealer never looked at my truck, he only listened to the lexus mechanic who said "CV Boots are leaking, at 120K, they might need to be replaced." THe maintenance rep gave me 2 options of 1) boot repair kit 2) new axels for a few hundred more

It wasn't until i had read all of your input on this forum that I called the maintenance rep back, and started to explore the option of the reclamping. Since my truck just came off of its extended warranty, i have worked with this guy for several years and trust him. So then he told me, he had never heard of just re-clamping, but thought it was the best idea. We double checked the boots, and non of them were split. DONE!

(and if it were warmer and if i had a garage, i would do the work myself, but for the $100 or so the dealer is now charging me to do this, i am ok with them doing the work)

I think Due Diligence is an important component in decision making, especially when so much money is involved.

Again, THANK YOU ALL

Brian
 
IIRC if you look at the FSM you'll see that there is some specific way shown of clamping the OEM hardware, with specs on much the crimping has to be etc. My wife had one side redone a while back. When it came back it looked like a gang of drunk monkeys had a go at the clamp with big hammers and wrenches...

IOW, make sure they know that you expect them to do it by FSM standards, not whatever the tech newbie (or hurried veteran) in there thinks he can get away with.

What I've done is go to the dealer with a copy of the relevant FSM pages so they have them and feel the pressure to do it right. One time I had to do that to "educate" the front desk service manager who was claiming adamantly that the truck had non-adjustable unit bearings or something like that. Sheesh...
 
Again, thank you for the feedback, VERY helpful.

I am going to take a more thorough look at the boots and the clamps. If boots are not cracked and look in decent shape, i will then move forward with the repacking and new clamps.

I will let you know what i find out.

Had the work done today on the truck. New clamps and additional grease in the CV boots. I had the dealer do the work and completed for $96. Thank you all!
 
Had the work done today on the truck. New clamps and additional grease in the CV boots. I had the dealer do the work and completed for $96. Thank you all!

did they tell you what kind of grease they used?
 
I ordered PFRAN's kit and did both of my inner axles (small diameter side - which is where it is leaking on both axles on my landcruiser and wife's GX470). Hardest part was removing OEM band. I slid the boot back, used a needle attachment to my grease gun and pumped in about 20 pumps of Amsoil's Synthetic Polymeric Truck Grease NGLI #2. Then attached w/ PFRAN's band and closed.

After reading all the opinions on a variety of grease I used whatever overpriced grease I had in my gun. We'll see...OEM's gave me 120K trouble-free miles, at this point I'm happy w/ anything.
 
Had the work done today on the truck. New clamps and additional grease in the CV boots. I had the dealer do the work and completed for $96. Thank you all!

The dealership did this for $96? Ijust called my local one as my CVs are leaking super badly and they phone-quoted me at $263.75 just in labor per side. I confirmed with her that that was just to repack the boot and put on new clamps.. Do the dealerships call it something else?
 
The dealership did this for $96? Ijust called my local one as my CVs are leaking super badly and they phone-quoted me at $263.75 just in labor per side. I confirmed with her that that was just to repack the boot and put on new clamps.. Do the dealerships call it something else?

they do, it's "somebody owning a 100 can afford whatever we quote..." :)

tech content: mine would not even do the clamps alone IIRC.
 
I think I'm going to go with pframs kit. What grease should I get to fill the boots back up? Hopefully from an auto parts store?
Thanks.
 
Mine was up on the rack today getting new OME Shocks and Rear Springs (yay!) and i was able to put eyes on my CVs. One was blowing grease, but it wasnt torn. It appears the factory clamp cracked in half and is just hanging there!
 
I got oem reboot at dealer for $200 per side. All four new boots, clamps and grease was $400 from the Toyota dealer. The boots leaked, took back to the dealer and they tighter the leaky one/s. then another boot was starting to leak... Took it back and the mechanic basically recommended pfrans kit. Said that factory clamps are trash and the aftermarket hose clamp style is the way to go. Ordered em, Paul shipped ASAP, they installed them free of charge and seem to be working flawlessly. Hand tight plus a half turn, that's what mine are at.
 
Wasn't sure of the best place to post this...I didn't want to resurrect an ancient thread.

What do you guys think? There's a shot of the passenger side and drivers side. I also posted a close up of the drivers side. Do you think I can get away with just putting new clamps. They recently started leaking. 2006 with just under 90k.

Edit: I think they are all driver side. The passenger side isn't quite as bad.

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